Suntory Whisky Old — known affectionately throughout Japan as the 'daruma' bottle after the rounded Buddhist doll it resembles — was first released in 1950. It was conceived by founder Shinjiro Torii well before the war but held back until the post-war recovery allowed for its launch, and in the decades that followed it became one of the best-selling whiskies in Japan, a fixture of the salaryman's evening and the izakaya counter.
The blend uses malt from Yamazaki and Hakushu alongside Chita grain, and while it sits well below the prestige of Royal or Hibiki in the Suntory hierarchy, it carries its own quiet charm. This is not a showpiece whisky; it is a daily companion.
On the nose, malt biscuit and dried apricot lead, with honey and a light sherried sweetness beneath. There is a gentle waxiness and just a brush of something floral. The palate is soft and rounded — caramel, stewed apple, mild oak spice, and orange peel, with a trace of dark chocolate lurking in the background.
The finish is medium in length, unhurried, closing with honey and a faintly smoky echo. Suntory Old is a whisky that rewards context over scrutiny: served in a mizuwari with plenty of ice and soft water, it becomes the perfect accompaniment to grilled yakitori and the end of a long day. It is history in a glass, but history you can actually afford to drink.
